Postdoctoral Fellow

American Museum of Natural History; New York (NY); On-site; USD 66,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

The American Museum of Natural History in New York seeks a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology to perform comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses on nudibranchs as part of an NSF-funded collaboration with UC Berkeley. The fellow will design and execute independent research under the supervision of Dr.

Jessica Goodheart, including field work, care of invertebrates, and dissemination of results through publications, talks, and workshops.

Qualifications

• PhD in biology or related field by appointment time.
• Experience with field-based research on invertebrates.
• Experience writing and publishing peer-reviewed papers.
• Experience with genomic or transcriptomic analyses.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses for nudibranchs.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at meetings.
• Design and execute research projects under supervision of Dr. Jessica Goodheart.

Skills

Genomic analysis

Transcriptomic analysis

Field work

Invertebrate handling

Education

PhD in biology or related field

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellow

The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world's preeminent scientific and cultural institutions, and has as its mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.

The Division of Invertebrate Zoology is seeking a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow (two-year term) to perform comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses on nudibranchs related to an NSF-funded project in collaboration with Dr. Rebecca Tarvin at UC Berkeley to study the process of kleptocnidy, the theft and storage of microscopic stinging structures (nematocysts), in nudibranch mollusks. We are interested in whether this unique process evolved through specialization of phagocytosis, an ancient cellular process used across animals for immune defense and intracellular digestion. The Postdoctoral Fellow will design and execute original research projects related to the grant under the supervision of Dr. Jessica Goodheart. The position will involve field work, the care of invertebrates, and genomics. Scholarly impact, including through publication in refereed literature and presentation at conferences, workshops, and seminars, is a major goal of this position. This position is intended to be a period of mentored advanced training, scientific research, and/or pedagogical contributions designed to enhance the incumbent's professional, research, and scholarly proficiency.

• Carry out original scientific research related to dietary theft in nudibranchs, including field-based work.
• Write and publish peer-reviewed papers and other scholarly material on the results of the research.
• Present scientific results at professional meetings, scientific institutions, and, when appropriate, to the media and popular audiences.

The expected salary for the Postdoctoral Fellow is $73,316/annual. The AMNH offers an extensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of our dedicated and diverse community.

Pay will be determined based on several factors. The hiring range for the position at commencement is based on the type of work and the scope of responsibilities. The salary and placement offered is based on a number of individualized factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, credentials, areas of specialization, and depth and scope of experience.

Position Details

Position Title: Postdoctoral Fellow

Department: Invertebrate Zoology - 011

Contract Type: Full-Time

Scheduled Hours per Pay Period: 70

Union Status: Non-Union

FLSA Status: Exempt

Posting Number: GS1042P

Open Date: 08/19/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Physical Demands

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for prolonged periods.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to move about the Museum campus.
• Positioning/change of positioning: Must be able to frequently position oneself/body to accomplish job duties.
  • Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling.
  • Climbing: Ascending or descending physical structures.
  • Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 20 pounds of force frequently. May include any of the following:
    • Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
    • Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to drag, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
    • Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position.

EEO Statement

The American Museum of Natural History is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate with respect to employment, or admission or access to Museum facilities, programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, gender (including sexual harassment), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy and lactation accommodations, alienage or citizenship status, current or former participation in the uniformed services, status as a veteran, caregiver, pre-employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, national or ethnic origin, height, weight, or on account of any other basis prohibited by applicable City, State, or Federal law. Additional protections are afforded in employment based on arrest or conviction record, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, unemployment status, and credit history, in each case to the extent provided by law.

Supplemental Questions

1. * Have you completed all education requirements needed for conferral of a PhD in an appropriate biology-related field by the time of appointment?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * Do you have prior research experience with evidence of scientific research outcomes resulting from or following obtaining a PhD?
   • Yes
   • No
3. * Do you have experience with processes, methods, equipment, computer programming, etc. required to conduct research as summarized in this job posting?
   • Yes
   • No